Trace element status (Se, Cu, Zn) and serum lipid profile in Portuguese subjects of San Miguel Island from Azores'archipelago

Abstract

Data on selenium, copper and zinc in serum of Portuguese inhabitants of the city of Ponta Delgada-Azores Archipelago are reported for the first time. The subjects are of both sexes, aged 20 to 60 years, and non-abusers of alcohol, tobacco or drugs. Serum concentrations of these elements are in the same range than those found for populations of Lisbon and of some other European countries. Differences between sexes are observed, with serum selenium and zinc levels being higher in males than in females, and the copper levels being higher in females as compared to males. These results can be explained by the hormonal status and/or oral contraceptive steroids intake, particularly for copper. Concerning lipid profile, the majority of individuals have serum lipid parameters within the normal range. In addition, no difference in trace element levels between normo and hyperlipidemic individuals is observed and no conclusive results about the relationship of all evaluated parameters to alcohol, tobacco and drug consumption are observed, in agreement with data obtained in the population of Lisbon.

Serum concentrations of β-carotene, vitamins C and E, zinc and selenium are influenced by sex, age, diet, smoking status, alcohol consumption and corpulence in a general French adult population

“…This observation is consistent with data from most other published studies (Viegas-Crespo et al, 2000;Kafai & Ganji, 2003;Graham et al, 2004) and has been related to hormonal status (Viegas-Crespo et al, 2000).…”

Comparison of Whole-Blood Glutathione Peroxidase Activity, Levels of Serum Selenium, and Lipid Peroxidation in Subjects from the Fishing and Rural Communities of "Rabo de Peixe" Village, San Miguel Island, The Azores' Archipelago, Portugal

“…The enzyme activity was the same for both groups, but serum Se levels were much higher in the fishing than in the rural populations. In addition, serum Se concentration in these fishermen was similar to the mean value (104 ± 21 µg/L) found in a fishermen population from Madeira Island (15) and higher than those we have observed in two other Portuguese urban populations: Lisbon (on the mainland, 87 ± 20 µg/L in women, 100 ± 11 µg/L in men) and Ponta Delgada (located 15 km from Rabo de Peixe, 86 ± 15 µg/L in women, 98 ± 16 µg/L in men) (16,17). In turn, Se mean values in the rural subjects from Rabo de Peixe were in the same range of those we found in another rural population in the Portuguese mainland, but significantly higher than the observed in the rural male population of Curral das Freiras, in Madeira (60 ± 16 µg/L) (15).…”

Fibrates but not statins increase plasma selenium in dyslipidemic aged patients – The EVA study

“…were not reported by others [14,15]. Among the confounding factors, age [41], sex [16,17], lipid concentrations [42] have been evidenced.…”

“…Plasma or serum selenium concentration has been reported to predict mortality [6,7] and to be associated with higher cancer risk [8,9], cardiovascular disease risk [10,11] and cognitive decline [12,13]. The relationships between serum lipids and selenium, [10,11,14,15] and between poor selenium status and cardiovascular diseases and diabetes remain highly controversial [9].…”